Torrington cops: Man was combative after a seizure, fought with police and medical personnel

BANTAM -- A Torrington man was arraigned Friday in Bantam Superior Court following charges from what police described as being "combative" after having a seizure.

Joseph M. Wilton, Jr., 28, of 22 Field St., is facing allegations of interfering with an officer, second-degree breach of peace and three counts of assaulting public safety personnel when, according to police reports, he fought with medics and police officers as they were trying to help him following a seizure.

Torrington Police officers were dispatched to Wilton's residence to assist Campion Ambulance staff with "a combative male." When police arrived, they said they found Wilton lying face down and not responding to requests to roll over and speak with medical personnel.

When the attendants rolled Wilton onto his back and on a stretcher, he "immediately became combative with us and seemed confused," police said, "and screamed 'What are you doing? What's going on?'"

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Police said they told Wilton who they and ambulance personnel were, and what they were doing.

Wilton began to tussle with police, the documents state, and when one officer tackled him, he attempted to spit on the officer's face numerous times. The officer said he held his fist against the side of Wilton's head, so he couldn't bite his fingers, although he ended up biting the officer's gloves.

The second officer pepper sprayed Wilton, because he "seemed to become absolutely out of control," the records state. When the pepper spray failed in taming the defendant, Torrington police used a Taser. "But it appeared to have no effect on Wilton."

In March, Wilton was asked to provide police with a sworn statement, but said "he was busy," according to police. As of April 6, Wilton had not provided a sworn statement, so officers filed for a probable cause.

After the incident, one police officer said the felt pain in his lower back and elbow. A visit to the doctor determined the officer had a lumbar strain and left elbow strain, putting him out of work for two days, followed by five days of light duty.

Wilton was released on a written promise to appear for May 31, when he is also facing charges from a Jan. 7 arrest of operating a motor vehicle without a license and cited for an improper muffler.